Sidewall sample taking device



L. E. BROWN ET AL SIDEWALL SAMPLE TAKING DEVICE June 2, 1953 '3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 11, 1947 Fig.3

' Luther E Brown Oil/n W Williams L. E. BROWN ETAL SIDEWALL SAMPLE TAKING DEVICE June 2, 1953 s She cs-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 11, 1947 Fig.7

( Luther E Brown Ol/in M. M/liams Patented June 2, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SIDEWALL SAMPLE TAKING DEVICE Luther E. Brown, Greggton, and'Ollin W.

' Williams, Houston, Tex.

Application September 11, 1947, Serial No. 773,466

7Claims.

This invention relates to a sidewall sample taking device.

The invention embodies certain improvements over thetypes of testers disclosed in pending app'lications'flled by applicants in the United "States Patent Office on April 15, 1946,1mder Serial No. 662,142 and on August 26, 1946, under Serial No. 692,984.

An object of the invention is to provide equipment adapted to be lowered into a well bore by a wire line and by means of which a sample of the well fluid in the side wall of the bore may be taken and entrapped in a sample chamber in the device and withdrawn to the ground surface for inspection.

'It is another object of the invention to provide sample taking equipment which may be maintained in inactive position while being lowered into the well bore and equipped with releasing means effective, when released, to allow the application of the pressure of the well liquid to an expansible packer whereby said packer will be expanded into contact with the walls of the bore to seal off an area of said walls and the sample chamber will be placed in communication with said walls to allow the fluid from the sealed on area to flow into said sample chamber. Ihevariousstrata of the bore may thus be tested by a novel type of sample taking device, or well tester, and by a novel process.

A iurtherieature resides in the provision of the sample taking device of such construction that the pressure of the well liquid on the outside of, and within, the device will be balanced while the tester is being lowered into, and withdrawn from, the well bore with means for reducing the pressure within the tester to the end that the outside pressure of the well liquid may operate to expand the packer and render the tester operative.

The tester herein described may be operated either mechanically or electrically to utilize the pressure of the well liquid to expand the packer and render the device operative or active to admit a sample from the bore walls into the sample taking chamber.

".[t is a further object of the present invention to provide means for applying acid to the sealed eh area "from which the sample is to be taken.

Other objects and'advantages will be apparent from the following specification which'is illustrated byth'e accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a side elevation, partly in section,

inactive position.

I Figure 2 is a fragmentary, side elevation there- I Figure 3 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the tester shown in activepor sample taking,

position.

Figure 4 is a' vertical, sectional view of another embodiment of the invention which includes electrically operable means for allowing the pressure within and without the-device to become unbalanced.

Figure 5 is a wiring diagram.-

Figure 6 is a longitudinal, sectional view of the embodiment shown in Figure 4 with the parts shown in active, or sample taking, position.

Figure '7 is a fragmentary, side view, partly in section, illustrating substantially the same form of the invent-ion, as shown in Figures 4 and 6, but wherein the electrical current 'is supplied from the ground surface through the cable by means of which the tester '-is lowered into the well bore, and

Figure 8 is a cross-sectional View of a slightly modified embodiment of the invention shown'in Figure 6 taken on the line 88 of Figure 6 and embodying means for acidizing the sealed off area from which the sample is to betaken.

Referring now more particularly to the drawe ings wherein like numerals of reference designate the .same parts in each ofthe figures, the numeral I designates a central tubular stem which is provided with the upper andlower transverse partitions 2 and 3 which arespaced apart.

As illustrated this .stem is formed of two .sec tions which have the threaded connection}.

The upper end of the stem .1 is enlarged externally forming a barrel '5 containing a sample chamber 6 which continues down through the upper section of the stem I.

The stem is also provided with an external annular flange l. p

There is a tubular upper body which, in the present illustration, is formed of the upper and lower sections 8 and 9 connected together, pref.-

erably by threads.

The lower end of the section 9 of the body has a lower end face which is preferably downwardly and outwardly flared and the upper section 8 of the body isfltted closely about the stem i above the flange 1.

Intermediate the ends of the section '9 -of the body said section is provided with an inwardly extended flange H] which its closely about said stem beneath the flange 7. a

The flange H) is spaced a distance beneath movement relative to the body.

3 the lower end of the upper section 8 of the body so that the stem will have a limited axial An internal low pressure chamber II is thus also provided.

Fitted about the lower portion of the stem I there is a lower body I2 whose upper end is formed with a face I3 which converges outwardly and upwardly relative to the lower end face of the upper body. Formed integrally with the lower body and upstanding therefrom and closely surrounding the stern I there is a sleeve I2a whose upper end fits up into the lower end of the upper body and between said outwardly converging faces and surrounding the sleeve I2a there is an expansible packer I4 of any selected length and formed of some suitable resilient material such as rubber or rubberized fabric.

The external surface of this packer I4 is substantially cylindrical in contour.

The upper end of the sleeve I2a is spaced beneath the flange It thus forming a high pressure chamber I5.

Between the upper end of the sleeve I2a and the stem I there is one, or more, seal rings, as I6, which ar preferably countersunk into the inside wall of said sleeve I2a and between the inner wall of the flange I and the stem I there is one, or more, seal rings II preferably countersunk into said flange I0.

Between the partitions 2 and 3 the stem is provided with a low pressure chamber I 8 which is provided with an upper outlet port I9 above the flange I and a lower inlet port 20 spaced beneath said flange I; also the stem is provided with a port 2| located immediately beneath the partition 3. The stem constitutes a valve controlling the inlet and outlet of fluid to and from the chambers II and I5.

The packer I4 is provided with a radial tube 22 whose inner end is closed and provided with an enlarged head. This tube is embedded in the material of the packer with its outer end flush with the surface of the packer. Connected into this tube there is another tube 23 which is formed with universal joints, as 24, 24, embedded within the packer, and the upper end of the tube extends on up into a bore 25 in the lower section 9 and which bore continues on up through the upper body and at its upper end is turned in.- ward-ly through the upper section of the upper body. 011 opposite sides of the inwardly turned end of the bore 25 there are the upper and lower seal rings, as 26, 2'l, which form seals between the body section 8 and the stem I and which are preferably countersunk into said section 8 as shown. Above the partition 2 the stem I is provided with an external annular groove 28 and leading inwardly from this groove through the stem into the sample chamber there are the ports, as 29. The tubes 22 and 23, and the bore 25, constitute an inlet channel leading from outside the packer into the sample receiving chamber through the groove 28 and ports 29 of the stem or valve I when the inturned upper end portion of the bore 25 is in registrationwith the groove 28.

Between the upper end of the body section B and the stem there is an annular seal ring 30 which is spaced above the upper seal ring 26 and which is preferably countersunk into the body section 8.

Extendin through the lower body I2 and preferably oppositely disposed there are similar radial slots, as 3|, 3|, and in alignment with these respective slots there are the vertical side grooves 32 in the lower end of the stem I, the upper ends of said grooves being undercut to form the shoulders, as 33, and pivotally mounted in each slot 31 there is a dog 34 engageable with the corresponding shoulder 33. These dogs are in such engagement to hold the stem I in its upper position, as indicated in Figure 1. It should be here noted that thereis a perforated lower "end cap 35 screwed onto the lower end of the stem I which engages the lower end of the lower body I2 to limit the range of upward movement of the stem I.

There are the prongs 36 which are preferably formed integrally with the pivoted ends of the respective dogs 34 and which are directed downwardly and outwardly, as indicated in Figures 1 and 3 and the inner margin of each prong is provided with a projection 3'1.

There are the fiat springs, as 38, whose lower ends are secured to the lower end of the. lower body I2 and whose free ends are retracted up into th corresponding slots 3I and press outwardly against the corresponding projections 31 thus tending to force the sharp ends of the prongs 36 outwardly. These prongs, however, and the corresponding dogs 34 may be latched in their inner positions with the dogs 34 in en gagement with the shoulders 33 by means of latches, as 39.

The inner end of each latch 39 is pivoted in the corresponding slot 3| and in contact with the corresponding prong 35 so as to hold said prong retracted as indicated in Figure 1. The free ends of the latches extend outwardly and upwardly and there are the flat springs, as 40; whose lower ends are secured to the lower body I2 within the corresponding slot 3| and whose other ends are free and press against the upper sides of the corresponding latches so as to hold the outer ends of the latches in contact with the walls of the bore as the tool is lowered into the well.

In use the device is assembled, as shown in Figure l, with the stem in its upper position and with the dogs 34 in engagement with the shoulders 33 and with the cap 35 against the lower head. As so assembled the port 2| will be in communication with the high pressure chamber I5 and the ports l9 and 20, and the low pressure chamber II, will be sealed off from said high pressure chamber; also the port 29 will be put out of registration with the bore 25 and will be sealed off from said bore by the seal 26 as well as from the outside' ressure by the seal 30. It will thus be seen that the stem I is in effect a valve controlling the inlet and outlet of fluid to and from the pressure chambers II and I5. and also the inlet of sample fluid through the inlet channel from outside of the packer into the sample receiving chamber.

The device as so assembled may be lowered into the bore and the walls of the bore will hold the latches 39 in active position with their pivoted ends engaging the prongs 36 so as to hold said prongs retracted and to also hold thedogs 34 in engagement with the shoulders 33. As the device is lowered the well liquid will enter through the perforated cap 35 and will pass through the lower end of the stem I and out through the port 2| into the high pressure chamber I5. The well liquid, particularly in deep wells, is under high pressure but the pressure within the chamber I5 and on the outside of the tester will be equalized or balanced.

The tool may be let down into the well by means. of. a; flexible line; as 41,, preferably a wirecable and which may beconnected tethe upper end of the barrel any: approved manner, such as by" a, cable socket 42'.

When a pointhas been reached where it is desired to make a test the device may be pulled upwardly causing the outer ends of the latches 39' to engage the walls of the well bore: These latches are pivoted on pins 43- whichwilt easily: shear and when the outer ends of the latches engage the formation and upward movementis taken the pins i3 will? be sheared and the latches will? be moved inwardly into the position ind-i cated, in dotted lines in Figure 3 so as torelease the prongs 3-6 and thereupon the springs- 38 will force the outer ends of said prongs outwardly into engagement withthe wall formation at the; same time release the thugs 34 fromthe shoulders 33". The upper and lower bodies will be thereby anchored against" substantial" downward movement in the bore but when'the pullon the cable 4| is released the weight of: thestem: If and barrel, 5 will cause themto move downwardly to the position shown in Figure 3-- and the lower end of: the barrel will land on the upper endof upper head. As said stem moves downwardly the ports 2-1 will: move out of communication with the high pressure: chamber I 5 andbelow the seal F5 and the ports will eventually come into communication with the chamber l-5 and the 5 ports F9 will come into communication with the chamber [-1 so that the high pressure liquid inthe. chamber l5 may" pass out through the ports 20* into the chamber P8 and! thence through the ports l9= into the chamber H thus relieving the :1-

highpressure within. the tool: and unbalancing the pressures without and within the tool and thereupon the pressure of the liquid against the upper and lower bodies will move them toward each other thus compressi'ngthe packer Ht and expanding it into contact with an area of the walls of the bore. Meanwhile the port 2'9? will have come into registration with the inner end of the bore 2'5so that any'flui'din the sealed on formation may pass inwardly through the tube 22 and upwardly through the tube 2=3Fand the bore 25 and on into the sample chamber 6..

The device shouldbe allowed to remain in the position indicated a sufficient length of time to allow anamplesample to enter the sample chamber t and thereupon. an upward pull may be exerted on the line H which will, operate first to elevate the stem relative to said. bodies to its initial position, as indicated in Figure 1 thus carry ing the port 29 out of registration with the bore 25 and entrapping and sealing oii the sample in the chamber 5; also the port 20 will be carried out of communication with the chamber I55 and the port 2! will be carried into communication with said chamber It so as to allow the pressure of the outside well liquid to again enter the high pressure chamber l5 to balance the pressure outside and inside of the tool and upon further upward movement of the stem I the flange I will engage the lower end of the upper section 8 of the upper body and the pressure on the packer M will be relieved so as to permit it to contract to its original position free of the walls of the bore and the tooi may then be, withdrawn to the ground surface for an inspection of the sample.

As indicated in dotted lines in Figures I. and 3 there is a dummy tube 22o embedded in the walls of'thepaeker l4 opposite the tube 22 and of the same external dimensions. This dummy is provided sotha-t'the packer; when an endwise compressive force is; applied toit, expand 'in the same manner on both sides;

Referring to' the form shown in; Figuresi to 63, inclusive, the numerals 8a: and '9a designate the upper and lower sections of the upper body' and the numeral l-2li designates. the lower body; These upper and lower bodies have the outwardlyconvergihg, opposing, end faces as in Figure. 1 with an expansible packer I4 betweenthem.

Screwed onto the upper end of the upper body there-is: the samplereceiving barrel 5a containing asam-ple receiving chamber 611.

Beneath the lower body there is an annular lower end cap 4 4 which isoonnected to thelower section of the upper body by means of a tubular a nipple 46 onto which the-re is threaded a cylinder t l. This cylinder has an inlet passageway 48- extending from its lower end upwardly there-- through and which is surrounded bya spring guide at. This guide is surrounded by a coil spring-5t Whose upper end supports an annular plate 5i through.

In this form of the invention there is a stem l awhich works in an axial bore in the upper body and isfitted through the casing 4 5 and extends ondown through the lower-- end cap 46 and nipple lfi with its, lower end normally in contact with the platefil'. r

The lower end of this stem.- la' is formedinto a cylinder 53" in which a piston 5 is mounted to float freely. H

Within the lower section to of the upper body surrounding the upper end of the casing-- thereis a high pressure chamber l5a Whose lower end is formed by the upper end of the sleeve [20. The upper end of the casing 45- has; a port 55' leading outward-1y therethrough communicating with chamber (5a and stem in has a duct 55 opening at one end into the upper end of the cylinder 53" and leading at its other end outwardlythrough thev stem la which duct registers vriththeport' 55 when the stern la is, in its upper position.

The upper body also has a low pressure cham having a central opening 52 thereber- 51 therein and. above the duct 56 the stem lazhas the vertical side slots 58'. I

' The packer M. is' equipped with the radial tube 22 and the opposing dummy tube 220:, asin Figure and the tube 2'3 is. connected into the tube 22 and isof similar construction to the tube 2.3v shown iulh'gure. 1. with its. upp r end projecting up into the bore 25h Which leads. upwardly through, the body section 911. and whose. upper end: is inwardly turned,

The upper. end; of. the stem la is formed with aby-pass bore 5.9 whose upper and lower ends extend; radially outwardly through said stem walls. The upper section so or the upper body is formed with a bore Ell whose lower'endis in wardly turned and whose upper end extends up through said section and enters the sample cham ber-ta.

The upper end, of" the section to of the upper body has a radial relief duct 6 I- leading inwardly from the exterior of the section 'therethroughto the axial bore of the section functioning as the bearing for the stem la and the upper end of said stem has a reduced stop 62 extending upwardly therefrom which comes into contact with the upper end of the stem bearing bore and prevents the closing of the duct 6| as illustrated in Figure 4.

Around the stem bearing in the upper section 8a of the upper head and countersunk into said section above and beneath the overturned lower end of the bore 60 there are the upper and lower seal rings 63, 64 and around the stem la and countersunk therein above and beneath the outwardly turned lower end of the bore 59 are the annular seals 65 and 66.

Also around the stem la and countersunk therein above and beneath the vertical slots 58 there are the seals 61' and 68.

This latter seal 68 is above the duct 56 and beneath said duct and around and countersunk into the stem la there is a seal 69.

I The high pressure chamber la is sealed against the escape of pressure by means of the upper and lower seals 10 and H around the casing 45 and countersunk into the sleeve I20.

When the tool is assembled and ready to be lowered into the well bore by means of the wire line 4| the stem la will be held in its upper position by means of the spring 50. When in this position the upper end of the bore 59 will be above the lower end of the bore 60 and the lower end of the bore 59 will be above the upper end of the bore 25a. In other Words these bores will be sealed against the passage of fluid through them. Also the low pressure chamber 51 will be sealed ofi both above and below the slots 58 and the duct 56 will be in communication with the high pressure chamber l5a. This chamber [5a and the cylinder 53 above its piston may be filled with any suitable liquid such as a lightoil or the like and when the tool is lowered into a well filled with liquid the pressure of the well liquid against the piston 54 will create a corresponding pressure in the high pressure chamber l5a so that the pressure in this last mentioned chamber will be the same as the pressure of the liquid surrounding the tool so that the outside and inside pressures will be balanced.

. When the tool has been lowered to the location where a test is to be made the stem la will be moved downwardly, in a manner to be hereinafter stated, moving the duct 56 out of communication with the high pressure chamber I50! and moving one of the slots 58 int-o communication with said high pressure chamber and this slot will also be in communication with the low pressure chamber 51 so that the high pressure, in the chamber l5a will be relieved and the pressure of the liquid against the upper and lower ends of the upper and lower bodies, respectively, will cause said bodies to move slightly toward each other placing the packer l 4 under suflicient compression to expand it into contact with the walls of the well bore, as shown in Figure 6, to seal off an area to be tested and the respective lower and upper ends of the bore 59 will register with the overturned ends of the respective bores 60 and 25a so that a channel will be open from the tube 22 into the sample chamber 6a and fluid from the sealed off area may flow into said sample chambet.

The stem la may be moved downwardly, as above described, by electrically operable mechanism enclosed within a casing T2 which is fitted within a chamber 13 in the upper head. This 8 mechanism embodies a time clock 14 of any con ventional construction which is wired in-circuit with batteries 75, 75 and when the time clock 14 closes the switch to complete a circuit through the I batteries the solenoids I6, 16 associated with said batteries, will be energized.-

There are the arms 11, 11 whose outer ends are pivoted to the casing 12 and whose inner ends project into notches in the stem la. There are the solenoid cores 18, 18 which are pivotally connected, at their upper ends, to the arms TI and whose lower ends are associated with the sole noid windings. When the magnets 16 are energized the cores 18 will be pulled downwardly thus actuating the arms 1'! to force the stem la downwardly.

The timing device, or clock, 1'4 may be set when the device is lowered into the well and it is regulated so as to give sufficient time to allow the tester to be lowered the required distance before the time-clock closes the switch to energize the solenoids.

After the packer has been expanded, as above explained and as shown in Figure 6, it should be allowed to remain for a time in that position so as to allow the inflow of a sufiicient sample and the time clock is so regulated that it will not break the circuit to the magnets 16 until this time is elapsed, whereupon said circuit will be broken and the spring 50 will then operate to elevate the stem la to its upper or original position thus closing the bore 60 and entrapping a sample in the sample chamber 6a. Any fluid above the stem la in its bearing will be expelled through the duct 6| as the stem moves upwardly.

Upon upward movement of the stem the duct 56 will register with the port 55 and high pressure will be re-established in the high pressure chamber I 5a thus. equalizing the pressures inside and outside of the tester. This will allow the upper and lower heads to move apart and the packer M to contract to free the walls of the Well bore and the tool may then be readily removed from the bore for an inspection of the sample.

From the above it will be noted that the stem I, or I a, forms valve means through which the pressures of the well liquid may be controlled and through which the inlet into the sample chamber may also be controlled.

In the form shown in Figure '7 the magnets 16 are energized from a source at the ground surface through electrical conductors, as 80, which are enclosed within the cable 4| The control of the current is efiected by means of any selected type of switch at the ground surface which is under the control of the operator. In other respects the form shown in Figure 7 is the same as that shown in Figure 4.

Under certain conditions of the wall formation the fluid in said formation will not readily flow and itmay be neecssary to acidize the formation to make it more porous to promote the flow of the fluid from it into the tester.

In order to make provision for acidizing the sealed 01f area around the tube 22, the packer Me, as shown in Figure 8, may be provided with enclosed pockets, or cavities, 8|, 8| to contain an acid. These pockets are provided with outlet nozzles, as 82, 82, formed of a suitable metal or other rigid material which will not be afiected by said acid. These nozzles are provided so that when the packer I 4a is placed under compression the pockets, or cavities, 8| will not be closed. The nozzles 82 are temporarily closed by means of plugs 83 which are formed of a suitable metal.

or material, which will be :quickly eaten out by the acid to permit the discharge of the acid.

the time the tester has been lowered into the bore hole to the desired location and operated to expand the packer Ma these plugs 83, 83 will have been destroyed by the acid and when the packer is expanded anareaof the formation will .not only have been sealed ofi but the-endwise compression on the packer will force the acid from the pockets 81 out through the nozzles =82 into the formation around the inlet tube .22 so threaded socket 84 (and leading inwardly from this socket into the sample chamber there is a port 85. Opposite the port '85 and threaded through the wall of the barrel there is a valve 36 whose inner end is tapered to fit and to close the port 85 when said valve is screwed inwardly.

.Around the outer end of this valve there isa seal ring 8?! to prevent leakage. socket 84 is closed by a plug 88. When it is deiNormally the sired to test the contents of the sample chamber to ascertain its pressure the plug 88 maybe removed and the hose of a pressure gauge may have its outer end fitting screwed into the socket 8'4 and the valve 86 may then be screwed outwardly to open the port 85 to allow the pressure fluidto actuate the gauge to ascertain the amount of pressure.

Otherwise than hereinbefore explained the form shown in Figures 7 and 8 is the same as that shown in Figures 4 and 6.

The drawings and description are illustrative merely while the broad principle of the invention will be defined by the appended claims.

What we claim is:

1. A testing tool for recovering the fluid :con-

.tent of an earth stratum from the side wall of. a bore hole comprising, a stem, body members onthe stem and movable longitudinally relative to each other, a sleeve on one of said members adaped to be telescopingly received in the other of said members, a cylindrical packer between .said members and surrounding the sleeve, said ceiving chamber on the tool, said members being shaped to form with said stem a high pressure and a low pressure chamber, the innerwalls of said pressure chambers beingiformedby the outer wall of the stem, said pressure chambers controlling movement of said body members towards said low pressure chamber being within an uppermost of said body members, said packer and said other of :said members having an inlet channel leading from outside the packer, said stem having a port communicating with said sample receiving chamber and positioned to move out of communication with said inlet channel uponmovement of the stem to one position and to move into communication with said inlet channel upon movement of the stem to another position, said stem also having a port arranged to communicate. the

high pressure chamber with the well bore outside of the assembly, when the stem is'i-n said one position and said stem having other ports arranged to communicate the high pressure chamber with the low pressure chamber when the stem in said'other position. I 1 :2. A testing tool for recovering the hind content-o1 an earth stratum from the side wall of (a bore hole comprising, a stem, body members on the stem and movable longitudinally relative to each other, a sleeve on one or said members telescoping into the other of said members, acylindricai packer between said members and surrounding the sleeve, said packer being expansible by endwise compressive forces, said stem being movable longitudinally through said members and packer, a sample receiving chamber on the tool, said other of said members being shaped to form with said stein a high pressure chamber-and a low pressure chamber, the inner walls of said pressure chambers being formed by the outer wall of the stem, said pressure chambers con-trolling movement of said body members towards each other to expand said packer, said high pressure chamber being between said body members, said low pressure chamber being within an uppermost of said body members, said packer and said other of said members having an inlet channel leading from outside the packer, said stem having a port communicating with said sample receiving chamher and positioned to move out of communication with said inlet channel upon movement of said stem to one position and into communication with said inlet channel upon movement of saidstem to another position, said stem also having a port arranged to communicate the high pressure chamber with the well bore out-side of the assemblv, when thestem is in said one position and other ports arranged to communicate the hi pressure chamber with the low pressure chamber when the stem is in said other position, and :a flexible line for lowering the tool into and withdrawing it from the bore hole. I

3.. A testing tool for recovering the fluid content of an earth stratum from the side wall of a bore hole which contains liquid and comprising,

a stem, body members on the stem and movable longitudinally relative to each other, a cylindrical packer between said members, said packer being 'expansible by endwise compressive forc'egjsaid stem being movable longitudinally through said members, a sample receiving chamber --on the tool, said members being shaped to form with said stem a high pressure chamber and a low pressure chamber, the inner walls of said pressure chambers being formed by the outer wall of the stem, said pressure chambers controlling movement of said body members towards each other .to expand said packer, .said high pressure chamher being between said body members, :said low pressure chamber being within an uppermost of .60 each other to expand said packer, said high pressure chamber being between said body members,

said body members, said packer and one of said members having an inlet channel leading from outside said packer, said stem having a port com- 'municating with said sam le receiving chamber and positioned to move out "of communication with said inlet channel upon movement of the stem to one position and to move into communipressure chamber to balance the liquid pressures outside and inside of the tool, when the stem'isin said one position and other ports arranged to communicate the high pressure chamber with the low' pressure chamber when the stem is in said other position, to lower the pressure in said high pressure chamber to allow the outside pressure to expand the packer to seal oif an area of the stratum to be tested, said high pressure chamber being closed to said well bore when said stem is g in said other position.

4. A testing tool for recovering the fluid content of an earth stratum from the side wall of a bore hole which contains well liquid and comprising, a stem, body members on the stem and movable longitudinally relative to each other, a cylindrical packer between said members, said packer being expansible by endwise compressive forces, said stem being movable longitudinally "through said members and packer, a sample receiving chamber on the tool, said parts being shaped to form with said stem a high pressure chamber and a low pressure chamber, the inner walls of said pressure chambers being formed by munication with said inlet channel when the stem is in another position, said stem also having a port arranged to communicate the high pressure chamber with the well bore outside of the assembly, when the stem is in said one position and other ports arranged to communicate the high pressure chamber with the low pressure chamber, when the stem is in said other position, to allow the outside liquid pressure to expand the packer to seal off an area of the stratum to be tested, said high pressure chamber being closed to said well bore when said stem is in said other position, and a flexible line for lowering the tool into and withdrawing it from the bore hole.

5. A testing tool for recovering the fluid content of an earth stratum from the side wall of a bore hole which contains well liquid andcomprising body members coaxially connected for longitudinal movement relative to each other, a cylindrical packer between said members, said packer being expansible by endwise compressive forces, said members having coaxial bores, valve -means movable in said members, a sample receiving chamber on the tool, said members being shaped to form with said valve means a high pressure chamber and a low pressure chamber, the inner walls of said pressure chambers being formed by said valve means, said pressure chambers controlling movement of said body members towards each other to expand said packer, said high pressure chamber being between said body members, said low pressure chamber being within -,an uppermost of said body members, said packer,

and one of said parts being provided with an inlet channel leading from without the tool, said valve means having a port communicating with said sample receiving chamber and positioned to be out of communication with said inlet channel in one position of said valve means and in communication with said inlet channel in another position of said valve means, said valve means i alsohaving a port arranged to communicate the high pressure chamber with the well bore outside or the assembly to admit said liquid into the high pressure chamber to balance the liquid pressures outside and inside of the tool, when the valve means is in said one position, and other ports arranged to communicate the high pressure chamber with the low pressure chamber, when the valve means is in said other position, to lower the pressure in said high pressure chamber to allow the outside pressure to expand the packer to seal oil an area of the stratum to be tested, said high pressure chamber being closed to said well bore when said stem is in said other position.

6. A testing tool for recovering the fluid content of an earth stratum from the side wall of a bore hole which contains well liquid and coinprising body members 'coaxially connected for longitudinal movement relative to each other, a cylindrical packer between said members, said packer being expansible by endwise compressive forces, said members having coaxial bores, valve means movable in said bores, a sample receiving I chamber on the tool, said members being shaped to form with said valve means a high pressure and a low pressure chamber, the inner Walls of said pressure chambers being formed by said valve means, said pressure chambers controlling movement of said body members towards each other to expand said packer, said high pressure chamber being between said body members, said low pressure chamber being within an uppermost of said body members, there being an inlet channel leading through said packer and through one of said members from outside said packer, said valve means having a port communicating with said sample receiving chamber and positioned to be out of communication with said inlet channel in one position of said valve means and in communication with said inlet channel in another position of said valve means, said valve means also having a port arranged to communicate the high pressure chamber with the well bore outside of the assembly, when the valve means is in said one position, and other ports arranged to communicate the high pressure chamber with the low pressure chamber, when the valve means is in said other position, to allow the outside liquid pressure to expand the packer to seal ofi an area of the stratum to be tested, said high pressure chamber being closed to said well bore when said stem i in said other position and a flexible line for lowering the tool into and withdrawing it from the bore hole.

'7. A testing tool for recovering the fluid content of an earth stratum from the side wall of a bore hole which contains well liquid and comprising coaxially arranged body members connected together for longitudinal movement relative to each other, a cylindrical packer between said members, said packer being expansible by endwise compressive forces, valve means movable in said members and packer, electrically operable means for controlling the valve means, a sample receiving chamber on the tool, said members being shaped to form with said valve means a high pressure chamber said high pressure chamber controlling movement of said body members towards each other to expand said packer, said high pressure chamber being between said body members, said packer and one of said members having an inlet controllable by the valve means and leading through the packer wall and said one of said members into the sample receiving chamber, said valve means having a port arranged to communicate the high pressure chamber with the well bore outside of the assembly to admit said liquid into the high pressure chamber to balance the pressure outside and inside of the tool, when the valve means is in one position and to relieve the pressure in said high pressure chamber when the valve means is in another position, to allow the 5 outside liquid pressure to expand the packer to seal ofi an area of the stratum and to also open said inlet, said high pressure chamber being closed to said well bore when said stem is in said other position, and a flexible line for positioning 10 the tool in the bore hole.

LUTHER E. BROWN.

OLLIN W. WILLIAMS.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Edwards Sept. 10, 1940 Boynton Jan. 28, 1941 Johnston Feb. 11, 1941 Potts Jan. 12, 1943 Spencer Mar. 9, 1943 Brown et a1. July 30, 1946 Mennecier May 18, 1948 

